Review: The F*ck It List by Kevin Pryslak

Rating:

Reviewed by Poppy Johnson

Let’s start with the facts–The F*ck It List: All The Things You Can Skip Before You Die is hilarious. We all despise other people’s glorious tales about the exciting to them but boring to us travels, their “this or that” some friend just purchased, or the Lifetime Achievement goals someone else just achieved. Who needs it, the having to be happy for other people for their trumped up triumphs? Who needs a bucket list anyway and why do we need to list all of the crap that we will likely never achieve or be able to afford in our average lives?

Kevin Pryslak flows the idea of a formalized, notarized “Bucket List” that can be promptly thrown out the window, or alternatively, in the toilet. And man, it definitely felt good to do this and take my life back–to get rid of the expectations and the “scores” to exceed.

This list to forget is an alternative to making a list of stupidly unattainable activities that most people will never get to do but that they will feel perpetually guilty over. People may harbor regrets about an unfulfilled bucket list until their last breath. But this book makes it all better, and it answers the question as to why we want these idiotic goals in the first place by turning each question into a Jeopardy-esque “F*ck It: I’m not going to…” journey of sorts.

There is commentary provided for each typical bucket list item, explaining why we should not aspire to that much greatness (not in this life, but maybe in the next one). Not to be competitive, but I will admit that I had actually completed a few items on this esteemed bucket list. I knitted a scarf, played piano and helped reenact a Civil War Tavern scene as a “ghost” for Halloween at a famous New England Tavern.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a good laugh. It is small enough to keep close and enjoy on the go. Make a new list of what you never need to do and feel better today about what really matters in life.

After a decade of working in several NYC law departments and teaching, Poppy decided she enjoyed writing full-time. She currently works as a freelance writing consultant, and lives with her husband and sons on the East Coast.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Simon & Schuster. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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6 Comments

This actually sounds really helpful! I know a lot of people, myself included, that are a bit stressed by having not accomplished everything they thought they would by this age. I thought I would have hiked along the Great Wall of China and dived in an Australian reef by now but f*ck it. I’m not going to do those things! See I feel relieved already! :)

Well, between the title and the humor, I would have picked it up without the review anyhow, I think. How was that for a run-on sentence? I enjoyed your review, and the fact that you say it’s small enough to take with you and also you can take a few things from the actual book. I need a laugh most of the time, so this goes on the list!

When I saw this book come out – I wanted to read it SO BAD! If I remember correctly, this was actually a giveaway from Luxury Readings! Anyways, books like this are entertaining reads that often have a couple ideas to take away. I thoroughly enjoyed your review and I think I might grab this book for the coffee table!